8.China - Japan Trip - PART THREE: DAY EIGHT : BEIJING SIGHT SEEING .Day 8.Part III - Summer Palace and Olympic Park

DAY EIGHT- 15 May 2015. CHINA - JAPAN TRIP 

Part III - SUMMER PALACE and Olympic Park, BEJING.

CHINA - DAY - TWO - BEJING - SIGHT SEEING : PART THREE

CONTD AFTER : PART II - Great Wall of China

MAP OF SIGHTS SEEN BEJING PART III : Summer Palace  .

This is the screen shot of the map of places seen on day 8 of the trip . To see interactive map , go to This link .
OR

copy the link Below and paste it in URL bar.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&authuser=0&mid=zhhZ6ZYYuJgw.kF3O15TjpoKY

This will open interactive map.Any clarifications about how to use this map , just send me a mail.

Summer Palace , Bejing.

After conquering the great wall , on the way we had "Chinese Lunch" at Palace Hotel and then proceeded to Summer Palace. 

The Summer Palace is located in the northwest outskirt of Beijing, about 20 KMs away from the center of Beijing, the Tiananmen Square.The Summer Palace is one of the largest Imperial Gardens built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and by far the best preserved one in China now. On November 30th 1998, it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.
With a total space of 300 hectares, it mainly consists two parts: the Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake, which occupies one quarter and three quarters of the total area respectively. 

As per information in guide books it takes minumum of one full day to see it proprely.Our tour guide gave us just about 45 minutes. Out of 300 odd hectors we may have seen , may be , just about 0.25 hectors :-( . Area seen by us is  located near New Gate SE of the garden.) Another disadvantage of Group Tours.I will ,  cover information only about the area seen by us.

We entered Summer Palace gardens from the New SE Gate located in an area near bronz ox .This area is known as East Causeway . East Causeway stretches from Wenchang Tower (or Tower of Literary Prosperity) in the north to the Xiuyi Bridge in the south. It spans the full frontage on the East side of the lake.It has an unobstructed view of the whole area and the best vintage point to have full view of al the areas of the Summer Palace Gardens. 

Ticket counter Summer Palace.

New South East Gate of Summer Palace. 

Another View.

New South East Gate of Summer Palace.

Pleasure / Ferry Boat for lake cruise of Kunming Lake. The lake is considered an attractive,scenic and important feature of Summer Palace complex.

Another view of Pleasure / Ferry Boat at warf on lake  Kunming .

SEVENTEEN - ARCH BRIDGE. 

The Seventeen-Arch Bridge stretches between the South Lake Island and the East Causeway. It is the longest bridge among the Chinese imperial gardens. Built in 1750, the bridge is 150 meters (164 yards) long and 8 meters (8.7 yards) wide. Along the railings of the bridge , there are 544 distinctive lions on the columns of the white marble parapets, the craftsmanship and the numbers of lions both exceed those of the other lake bridges in China. The unique scenery is but one of the stunning landscapes in the Summer Palace. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge looks like a rainbow arching over the water. On each end of the bridge is a carved bizarre beast which looks like kylin, an auspicious animal in Chinese legends. 17 Number of arches was deliberately chosen . This way 9th arch from either end is the central arch. Size of the arches increases as it progresses towards the centre. With the biggest arch in center of the bridge flanked by 8 arches on either side. Number nine was believed to be the biggest yang (anode) number, an auspicious number favored by the emperors. So the bridge was designed with seventeen arches. The east end of the bridge is connected with Kuoru Octogonal Pavilion. Kuoru Octogonal Pavilion is also called Spacious Pavilion . A Bronz Ox just stands off on the opposite side of the pavilion. Beside the pavilion and Bronze Ox are the ferry boat wharfs. The beauty of the bridge can be admired while walking along the East Causway.

First glimpse of famous & beautiful Seventeen Arches Bridge.

Famous & beautiful Seventeen Arches Bridge.

Seen from the Ferry Boat Warf.

Spacious Pavilion also known as Kuoru Octogonal Pavilion visible on the right end of bridge.

Lion Statues on marble pillers of bridge railings.

Spacious Pavilion also known as  Kuoru Octogonal Pavilion visible right in at center at the end of bridge.

 

On each end of the bridge is a carved bizarre beast which looks like kylin, an auspicious animal in Chinese legends.  kylin, is the stone statue,other in photo is Priti :-)

Near the bridge end is the Spacious Pavilion .

SPACIOUS PAVILION ALSO KNOWN AS KUORU PAVILION.

Located at the eastern end of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, there is an example of pavilion-style architecture . It is a wooden structure of unusual size. It is an eight-sided and double-eaved pavilion . It is the  most prominent of the forty pavilions in the Summer Palace, The pavilion is called the Kuoru Pavilion . because it it is 8 sided it is also called Octoganal Pavilion. Yet another lesser popular name is Eight-Directional Pavilion.With a space of 300 square meters , it is the largest of its kind in China. Kouru Teng in Chinese means big space therefore it is called Spacious Pavilion as well.

During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong and his scholars often drank wine and composed poetry here. Tablets with Emperor Qianlong’s poems, and couplets written by the scholars in response, are still hung in this pavilion now.It’s said that, seen from afar, the Spacious Pavilion, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and the South Lake Island link together and form the shape of a tortoise, which represents the Longevity of the emperor. Of course we never knew about when we were there, it to check out if ir is really so :-).

  





Kuoru Pavilion,Octoganal Pavilion,Eight-Directional Pavilion.Spacious Pavilion.

All names for the same structure.

Beautifully painted insude of the roof - Sacious Pavilion.

The BRONZ OX.

A life-size bronze ox set on a bluestone wave-lined pedestal overlooks the east shore of and is located near Spacious pavilion. It is the largest of its kind in existence in China, reflecting the excellence of casting techniques in ancient China. The bronze ox was originally gilded with gold foil. It was usually called the 'gold ox' but the gold foil was peeled off when the Summer Palace suffered from despoiling.The ox was cast in the image of a live creature in 1755. On its back is an inscription explaining the significance of the bronze ox. The ox was placed on the bank of the lake in hopes of preventing flooding forever.The ox is said to possess flood control powers. Da Yu, the legendary master of flood prevention, would commit an iron ox into the water on completion of every one of his projects. Oxen were praised as good swimmers, muscular, hardworking and easygoing. It has become customary since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to line the edges of waterways with oxen. Hence this bronze ox was on the bank, too. This Bronze Ox, sitting beside the water and overlooking the harmonious and enchanting lake, is rather imposing. The Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) personally dedicated this particular bronze ox. On the back of the ox is an 80-character-posy in seal character - 'Golden Ox Inscription' by him.

The Bronz Ox . 80-character-posy in seal character seen on its back.

The Bronz Ox was also called The Golden Ox.

The Nanhu Island - South Lake Island.

The Nanhu Island , is located in an area known as South Lake , a part of the Kunmimg Lake ,  therefore it is also called South Lake Island . It is the biggest island on Kunming Lake. It is located on the eastern part of Kunming Lake and linked with the East Dike / Causway by the 17-Arch Bridge. Beautiful buildings, halls, pavilions and towers were built on the island with old pine trees and cypresses. It is also called the Penglai Fairland, the home of legendary immortals.A fair pathway is built around the perimeter of the island . Being short on time we tried to go cross country . The island is rocky and going was very tricky . One had to relly concentrate to negotiate the rocks and undulating ground to avoide any mishap . There were lots of ups and downs .Negotiating these obstructions was a circus in itself . There was no question of taking one's eyes from the pathway and look through the camera for photos,  Therfore there are just two odd photos taken on the Island.As we were told deperture time for the next sopt , we went cross country . 

Hanxu Hall also called Hall of Embracing the Universe . Nanhu Island.

Hanxu Hall is the largest individual construction on the island. It stands out on a rockery ascent with a platform under the steps in the south. Located on the northern shore of the island, it coordinates with the Tower of Buddha Incense on Longevity Hill from afar. Here Emperor Qianlong used to watch naval exercises. Here Empress Dowager Cixi enjoyed displays performed by the naval academy. Hanxu Hall boasts the best perspective view of the surrounding scenery.

Longevity Hill. Main Palaces Pomplex,and Tower of Buddhist Incense . Summer Palace .
As seen from Hanxy Hall , Nanhu Island.

Olympic Park Beijing.

Beijing Olympic Park is where the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympics took place. It occupies a total area of 4.47 square miles (11.59 square kilometers), of which 2.63 square miles (6.8 square kilometers) in the north are covered by the Forest Park, 1.22square miles (3.15 square kilometers) make up the central section, and 0.63 square miles (1.64 square kilometers) in the south are scattered with venues for the 1990 Asian Games. The park was designed to contain ten venues, the Olympic Village, and other supporting facilities. Afterward, it was transformed into a comprehensive multifunctional activity center for the public.

One of the ticket counter and entry gate .

Mini vans to convey tourists from the entry gate to main areas of the Olympic Park .

Watch Towers . Elevated Restaurants . Architecturally very good and beautiful construction .

National Stadium . Due to its architecture it is also called " Bird nest"

It was now approaching dusl . It had been a long day . So we finally left the architectural extravaganza and a Chinese show piece for the World to see.

Agreed it was a wonderful achievement and a place made to be seen and shown , I still feel that instead of time spent on this concrete and steel wonder , we would have loved to spend the same time at visiting The Longevity Hill and the Summer Palace .

Reached Hotel an bid every one Good Noght . To awaken and leave for Xiam the ext day .

END DAY EIGHT AND  BEIJING SIGHT SEENG .

CHINA TRIP CONTINUES ON DAY 9 AND XIAN.